Here’s Nellie Lutcher and Her Rhythm with her big 1948 hit on Capitol:
That’s just pure, flirty fun. I remember first hearing it on a CD compilation around 2000 and immediately thinking, “Wait — what’s this? How did I not know about this?”
And because I’m a sucker for pop‑culture name‑drops, I love how she casually tosses in Robert Taylor, Robert Young, (Don)Ameche, and (Clark) Gable. Only Nellie could make a roll call of Hollywood leading men feel like part of the rhythm section!
As usual, she makes every song sound like it was written specifically for her. So I was surprised to learn sometime later that there was an earlier version of Fine Brown Frame — by Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra on Decca, recorded four years earlier:
It’s pleasant enough, but it doesn’t quite have that special spark Nellie brings. Still, it’s always fun to go digging and hear how a tune evolves before the right artist comes along and makes it shine.
But Nellie is fine times two!
